The UK has announced it will extend the Interflex training initiative in 2026, providing Ukrainian soldiers additional guidance from British and multinational instructors while updating the program to meet Ukraine’s evolving military needs.
Launched in 2022, the training initiative is designed to enhance Ukraine’s operational capabilities.
Originally a five-week basic combat course, the program has been extended to seven weeks and now includes additional modules.
Two new courses have been introduced alongside the basic infantry training.
One focuses on command skills at the platoon and section leader level, while the other trains soldiers to become instructors.
London added that collaboration with Ukrainian forces allows British troops to gain practical insights from the battlefield, informing the development of tactics, techniques, and operational skills.
Interflex Program
More than 56,000 Ukrainian soldiers have trained under Operation Interflex, led by the UK and 13 partner nations.
According to the UK government, surveys show that 90 percent of trainees report increased confidence in combat effectiveness and survivability, while 93 percent of basic recruits say battlefield first aid training improved their ability to treat casualties.
London describes the program as a “vital military training that turns civilians into soldiers capable of returning home to repel Russia’s illegal invasion of their country.”
In June, the UK announced that it would pledge an additional 247 million pounds ($331 million) for training Ukraine’s armed forces.
Aid for Kyiv
Since the start of the war, the UK has supplied Ukraine with military aid, covering training, funding, and equipment.
This year, London is providing 4.5 billion pounds ($6 billion) in assistance, the largest amount to date.
Equipment support includes increasing Kyiv’s drone supply from 10,000 to 100,000, backed by a 350-million-pound ($469 million) investment.
